Granite VS. Quartz- Choosing The Best Option For Your Countertops

For socialites, for parties, for families--the kitchen is the heart of the house, and nothing in your kitchen is likely to be more visible or well-used than your countertops.

Eye-catching, classic and made to last a lifetime, granite and quartz have long been the gold standard building materials for homeowners and remodelers, but which one is right for your home? Bedrock Granite, a granite supplier in the Shrewsbury/ Redbank NJ area, says "Think about your lifestyle, your aesthetic preferences, your vision and your budget, and consider some of these pros and cons"

Granite is 100% natural, taken directly from the earth in large blocks that are turned into the polished slabs you see in magazines and showrooms. In granite, your countertops or floors will be unique to your home in a way quartz and other high-end materials simply can't match. As in nature, each piece of rock is one-of-a-kind. Most people want this, but keep in mind that the sample stone you fall in love with won't be an exact match to what arrives in your kitchen.

Practically speaking, granite is almost absurdly durable and heat resistant. It rarely scratches and is usable outdoors because there is no danger of sunlight fading out the color. It is porous, making it possible to stain and damage with cleaning products, but regular maintenance, recommended yearly, can prevent any problems from cropping up.

The quartz used in countertops is 90 percent quartz crystals and 7 percent resin, making for one of the strongest materials on the planet. As an engineered stone, its looks are uniform, making what you see in the store what you will see in your house. Quartz even has a certain amount of structural flexibility, more so than granite, leaving it easier to fabricate and install. Like granite, quartz is resistant to acidic foods and heat and scratch resistant. It is non-porous, meaning there is no need to seal it every year, making it virtually maintenance free apart from the odd spill.

One unavoidable difficultly of quartz is that it can discolor under direct sunlight. It is not recommended for outside bars or patios, and even indoors you may notice the difference over time if one part of your countertop is regularly exposed to the sun. Honed quartz, quartz with a non-shiny matte finish, is another option for your home. It looks beautiful, but it is more prone to stains and scratches than its conventional counterpart.

Granite, still perhaps the most popular countertop choice, will likely run you a higher price tag than quartz, but both materials are well-suited to your dream kitchen or dining area. They'll last as long as your home, raising its value and leaving you happy with whatever choice best fits your life.

Visit a showroom with skilled professionals, like Bedrock Granite, to walk you through the process. Their highly skilled staff will be happy to explain every detail that goes into making sure that your new counters and sinks look every bit as great as you imagined they would.
Bedrock Granite is located at 803 Shrewsbury Ave. Shrewsbury, NJ 07702. You can visit their website at www.bedrockgranite.com.